Prunus persica sprague peach bush

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Prunus persica characterized by the short, bushy shape of its trees and by the firmness and apparent virus-free nature of its fruit.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Prunuspersica, the novel characteristics of which reside particularly in theshort, bushy shape of the tree.

The new Prunus was first discovered by James W. Sprague in 1984. Itoriginated from a sport branch on a Prunus persica tree of the LastChance Peach Number One variety, grown in a cultivated orchard in theWest Antelope Valley of Lancaster, Calif. Thereafter, the new varietywas successfully asexually reproduced by Mr. Sprague by budding from thesport onto root stock of the Last Chance Peach Number One variety andother Prunus persica varieties. Such asexual reproduction resulted inseveral progeny trees which have consistently displayed the short, bushytree shape, firm fruit, virus-free fruit and apparent high temperaturedormancy characteristics found on the parent sport branch.

An interesting characteristic of the new variety is its short, bushytree shape. Mature trees naturally assume this shape without pruning.The tree grown largely without horizontal branches. No branches arethicker than about 11/8 inch in diameter and most of the branches aremuch thinner than that. The "trunk" is generally less than eight inchesin height. The trees rarely grow taller than about four and one-half tofive feet in height.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the virtuallyvirus-free character of the fruit. Thus, the fruit can be frozen forlong periods of time without discoloring and without additives.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the firmness ofthe fruit which allows the fruit to be transported and stored withminimal damage.

Another interesting characteristic of the new variety is the wiry natureof the branches and the tendency of the branches to bend but not breakunder the weight of maturing fruit so that fruit-laden branches archover until fruit growing at the further-most end rests upon the ground.

These characteristics make the new variety distinct from known varietiesof Prunus persica.

In particular, the new variety is distinct from the Prunus persica LastChance Peach Number One Variety in several characteristics as set forthin Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                                   Prunus Persica                                                                Last Chance Peach                                                                            Prunus Persica                                      Characteristic                                                                           Number One     Sprague Peach Bush                                  ______________________________________                                        Shape of tree                                                                            Dwarf tree     Bush                                                Height of tree at                                                                        7-9 feet       41/2-5 feet                                         maturity                                                                      Height of tree                                                                           11/2-4 feet    1-8 inches                                          "trunk"                                                                       Average thickness                                                                        2 inches       3/4 inches                                          of primary                                                                    branches                                                                      Length of leaf                                                                           4-41/2 inches  41/2-5 inches                                       Distribution of                                                                          Mostly in lower                                                                              Uniform throughout                                  fruit      2/3 of tree                                                        Maturation of tree                                                                       First sizeable First sizeable                                                 fruit crop in  fruit crop in                                                  third year     second year                                         Size of fruit                                                                            Vertical diameter:                                                                           Vertical diameter:                                             23/4-31/4      21/2-3 inches                                                  inches         Horizontal                                                     Horizontal     diameter:                                                      diameter:      2-23/4 inches                                                  21/4-3 inches                                                      Shape of fruit                                                                           Upper half     Symmetrical                                                    slightly                                                                      asymmetrical                                                       Exterior color of                                                                        Yellow color   Pale yellow color                                   fruit                     especially on                                                                 interior of bush                                    ______________________________________                                    

The new variety is also distinct from the Prunus persica Last ChancePeach Number One variety in that the bloom time of the new variety isslightly longer by about one week and the fruit of the new varietyappears slightly earlier but takes slightly longer to mature.

Other distinctive characteristics of the new variety are exemplified inthe accompanying illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an adult parent tree;

FIG. 2 is a close up of a branch with adult leaves;

FIG. 3 is a close up of a branch with adult inflorescence; and

FIG. 4 is a close up of a branch bearing ripened fruit.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description in some detail of the new variety ofPrunus persica.

Tree: Short, bushy shape, characterized by few horizontal branches.

About four and one-half to five feet tall at maturity. Water frugal,very dense, very rigorous, regular bearer, very productive. Dormancyperiod apparently induced by temperatures considerably higher thannormal dormancy-inducing temperatures. Bears fruit in October until aslate as about the first week in November.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Obovate, spatulate, acutely pointed, medium thickness, darkgreen color, smooth texture, four and one-half to about five inches inlength and one and one-half inches in width. Glandular and finelyserrate margin. Petiole of medium length and medium thickness, stipulesat base, average of eighteen to twenty glands per leaf, opposite andpositioned along full length of leaf, globose to reinform, normal greencolor.

Branches.--All vertical, few horizontals. Thickness no greater thanabout one and one-eighth inch in diameter. Smooth texture, red to brownin color, glossy appearance, lenticels medium in number.

Flower: Pink color, influorescent from February 25 through March 31st.

Buds.--Hardy, plump, medium length and somewhat appressed.

Fruit:

Form.--Uniform shape, shallow inconspicuous suture, circular cavity withsuture showing on one side, slightly to strongly rounded ventralsurface, rounded basis, short apex, 21/2-3 inch vertical diameter and2-23/4 inch horizontal diameter.

Skin.--Medium thickness, not tough or tender, tenacious to flesh, lessthan usual down that does not roll up when rubbed. Fifty to seventypercent red in color.

Flesh.--Yellow color, red color on surface of cavity, abundantamygdalin, moderate juice, very firm texture, austere flavor, distinctaroma, excellent eating quality, apparently virus-free. Retains color,texture and flavor upon freezing and thawing.

Fibres.--Fine, tender, few in number.

Stone.--Free, parts from flesh smoothly, short fibres, oblong to ovalshape, oblique base, broad helum, rounded apex, regularly furrowedtoward apex, pitted throughout, rounded ridges, elongated pits, thickventral edge, narrow dorsal edge, continuous ridges on either side,brownish-red color, about one-inch length and about three-quarter inchin diameter.

The principal novel characteristics of the new variety of Prunus persicais its short, bushy shape. This allows its fruit to be easily harvestedwithout the aid of ladders. Together with the wiry strength of itsbranches, the short bushy shape of the new variety makes the new varietyhighly resistant to wind damage when laden with fruit. Branches ladenwith fruit bend downwardly but do not break. Low, fruit laden branchesbecome supported by the ground. The overall effect is a marked reductionof "whipping action" induced by gusts of wind and a resultantminimization of wind-induced damage.

Another novel characteristic of the new variety of Prunus persica is thesubstantially virus-free nature of the fruit. This allows the fruit tobe stored for long periods with minimal decay. Also, the fruit can befrozen and the flesh will not darken.

The new variety of Prunus persica is further characterized by the firmflesh of the fruit. This allows the fruit to be transported and storedwith minimal damage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Prunus persica asdescribed and shown herein characterized particularly by the short,bushy shape of its trees and by the firmness and substantiallyvirus-free nature of its fruit.